RUMOR: A NEW CATCHER IS ON THE YANKEES TRADE DEADLINE WISHLIST

It's early, but I'm already thinking about this years trade deadline. Usually by now I have a decent list of players on my wish list but this year it's a little bit different. This year, if the Yankees continue to stay relatively healthy they can focus on adding pieces they want not just pieces they need to replace injuries.

Weird to think about, but this years trade deadline is just over six weeks away on August 2nd and the Yankees are are still thinking about Willson Contreras, read more HERE but so are a lot of other teams. Let's face it, the Cubs are in full rebuild mode. Contreras is the last big name left that holds any weight with their fan base....but his days in a Cubs uniform are numbered.

The Cubs and Contreras have not come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension and he is a free agent at the end of the season so he's on his way out of Chitown. Back in March we wrote RUMOR: YANKEES HAVE CHECKED IN ON YET ANOTHER CATCHER and the Yankees are still interested.

Before Jose Trevino, the connection to Contreras made a lot of sense. Trevino's done well for the Yankees while Kyle Higashioka has struggled....but can Trevino continue to perform at this level? His career .245 BA leaves me skeptical but I hope he proves me wrong. The Yankees have time to sit back and watch for a bit. 

But the Yankees aren't the only ones that will sit back and watch. The Astros and the Mets are considered favorite landing spots for Contreras and I think the Mets would be willing to give more to get him. As bad as the Astros production has been from behind the plate I think they will continue to trust Martin Maldonado and give him the chance to work through his issues. On the other hand, the Mets have already proven they are willing to make a big splash to win and James McCann hasn't lived up to their expectations so I think they will push harder to get Contreras.

But this is why I get excited about trade deadline rumors. I love the speculation and possibilities and this year if the Yankees continue on their current path they can add to strengthen the roster from a place of want and not just need. 

The Yankees have been tied to Contreras for a while now....it will be interesting to see if he eventually ends up in the Bronx. Good thing is we still have plenty of time to speculate. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CASHMAN IS "COMFORTABLE" WITH YANKS ROSTER, BUT IS HE DONE?

Christmas is six days away, and Brian Cashman already gave us a great Christmas gift. We have roughly two months before Spring Training starts and our team looks good. I am excited for the 2020 season. Our pitching looks much better but, what's next?

If you believe Cashman's poker face he says "Nothing in particular" is on his Winter checklist now that Gerrit Cole is officially a Yankee, read more HERE. I don't know that I buy this. Pitching was our biggest need but there are still other areas we need to improve.

Getting Brett Gardner re-signed helped set the outfield and maybe even the everyday lineup but what about the bench? Now that Gleyber Torres will transition to shortstop and DJ LeMahieu will play second base what about a versatile utility guy? We needed LeMahieu in that role last season even though he played everyday.

And what about the backup catcher? I revisit this one again. The Yankees were interested in Martin Maldonado but rumor is the Yankees interests have cooled, and would be okay with Kyle Higashioka as the backup now after all. "If the season started today, we’re very comfortable with Higashioka being our backup catcher," Cashman said. "Does that mean it’s going to be the case? I can’t say. But we’re very comfortable with where we’re at." So maybe Cole doesn't get his personal catcher after all? Who knows.

I think the biggest area to address at this point is another bullpen arm. I am skeptical about the Josh Hader trade idea. The Yankees really could use another arm though to reinforce the bridge to Aroldis Chapman. If it is Hader, so be it. Or if it is Dellin Betances even better but the bullpen could really use one more piece.

Cashman had an interesting point about not stressing about the lack of left handed hitters. I'm not too concerned either. If  we can get a lefty that makes the lineup better, great. If not, no big deal. The short right porch is just fine for right handed hitters and with the new pitching changes for 2020, managers won't be able to use a lefty specialist for a one batter scenario. Now, rule changes require pitchers to either face a minimum of three batters in an appearance or pitch to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions for injuries and illnesses.

Overall, I think we are comfortable but not necessarily done. The big moves may be done for now, but there are still smaller moves that can be made to make us better. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens next....because I do believe there is a next.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @NYPrincessj

WHO IS NEXT ON THE YANKEES WISH LIST?

So the Winter Meetings are finally done, and the Yankees already got their most wanted Christmas present. No lump of coal for us, but what comes next now that the Yankees finally got Gerrit Cole? There's still work to do.

1. What about Dellin Betances?

I like the idea of Josh Hader, but I also like what I am familiar with....which is Dellin Betances. Obviously, last season was lost but we know what he is capable of. We've seen it before. We know he can perform in New York but we don't know if Hader can. Right now, if any of these rumors are true like THIS ONE from Joel Sherman it sure sounds like the Yankees have moved on from Betances faster than I have.

I have to say I do like Hader, it's hard to look at his stats and argue otherwise. Hader has been dominant but Milwaukee abused his arm a little the past two seasons. Over that time Aroldis Chapman and Hader have had a similar workload but Hader has thrown almost 70 more innings. I have to question how the Brewers let him go from 47.2 innings in his first season to 81.1 innings the next. They never stretched him out, he was never a starting pitcher, he went right to a relief role. He's young but, they never conditioned him and that could be a problem going forward.

Why wouldn't the Brewers wait until the trade deadline to send Hader to a contender that needs a good reliever? They should be able to get even more for him at that point. I mean, as it stands right now Hader is going to cost more than other trade proposals I have read about. We posted A TRADE THAT COULD GET HADER TO THE BRONX! BUT...Luis Gil and Miguel Andujar are unlikely to get that deal done. Hader is only 25 and he is under team control through 2024. He's been an All-Star for the last two years, if the Brewers were willing to trade him so easily and for so little talent in return we really should be asking "WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?" because otherwise the proposed trade as is does not make sense.

Should the Yankees really be ready to move on from Betances so quickly?

2. What about a backup catcher?

Austin Romine's time in a Yankee uniform is over. He was a good backup catcher, so now who should the Yankees look to fill that role? The Yankees have Kyle Higashioka. The Yankees like him because of his receiving ability and he does have some pop in his bat, but he hasn't hit much in his limited big-league experience. He's at least worked with some of our pitchers but is he ready to go from minor league catcher to big league backup? Higashioka is out of minor-league options and they do not have MLB ready catching depth otherwise.

But the Yankees also have interest in Martin Maldonado who caught Cole and worked well with him. Cole had a 1.57 ERA in 10 starts with Maldonado catching him so that surely peaked Brian Cashman's interest. But Maldonado has been a bit of a journeyman, he also caught for the Royals and Cubs in 2019. He doesn't provide much offensively, so he's what you expect form a backup just like Romine was. Difference here, he was successful working with the best pitcher in all of baseball....so how do you ignore that?

So should the Yankees give Higashioka a chance in the big leagues or give Cole his personal catcher?

Truthfully, the backup catcher role doesn't concern me much....but the Hader interest does. I like what we see on paper, but I have to question if Hader is conditioned or ready to play for us. Can he be a better option than Betances? I think the Yankees should still be engaged with Betances. He is going to be a difference maker somewhere.

I guess we will have to wait and see. If you had to pick between Hader and Betances, who do you pick and why?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @NYPrincessj

JUDGE'S LASER SHOW

If you didn't see it... watch it now:

.@TheJudge44 with a LASER.

This throw was over 100 mph! pic.twitter.com/DXxweIYT47

— MLB (@MLB) May 26, 2018

Last night Judge was on fire defensively, actually 2 solid plays last night.  Mandy Bell of MLB.com has the story:

"Aaron Judge proved once again why runners may want to think twice about challenging his arm. Judge had not just one, but two assists from right field that played a crucial role in the Yankees' 2-1 victory over the Angels on Friday night.  With runners on first and second in the third inning with a 1-0 lead, it appeared that Justin Upton was going to tie the game with a single to right. But in one fluid motion, Judge scooped the ball off the ground on his glove side and fired a perfect strike to the plate to throw out Kole Calhoun who was attempting to score from second.... 

Photo: Getty Images

Not only did Judge save a run, but his laser from right field clocked in at 100.5 mph, according to Statcast™, which made the out even sweeter for the outfielder.... 

But Judge was only getting started. In the seventh inning of what was a 1-1 game, Martin Maldonado sent a long, looping fly ball down the right-field line that dropped right on the chalk. As Maldonado tried to extend his single into a double, Judge threw out his second runner of the night with a nonchalant flick of the wrist from the right-field corner to Didi Gregorius."

This is the stuff folks.  This is the stuff we need to appreciate with this team.  So happy we have Aaron Judge in pinstripes.

TEAMS WILL CHASE FOR HEADLEY

(June 30, 2016 - Source: Denis Poroy/Getty Images North America)

I'm starting to see a lot of Chase Headley chatter out there but I'm not really surprised. Teams know that we are in rebuilding mode and we will entertain offers for good prospects. I just don't think that this particular rumor has any real potential behind it but you never know. Baseball is unpredictable, right?

(July 14, 2016 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

According to Ken Rosenthal HERE the Yankees are "open" to trading Chase Headley....and to that I say of course they are. Headley is by no means a superstar third basemen. His breakout year was back in 2012 with the Padres and we haven't seen that kind pf performance she he has been a Yankee. He's a serviceable player but not untouchable. The Yankees wouldn't mind cutting him loose if there was someone out there that really wanted him AND if they were going to get some really nice prospects in return and he's not going to bring in that good of a return.

So far in the off-season we have seen names floated with potential suitors. There were clear trade targets for Brian McCann but Headley hasn't had any particular team put their name out there. I guess if we were going to analyze who the Yankees MIGHT match up with for a trade I could make a stretch and say the Milwaukee Brewers.....but again this is a stretch.

So let's speculate a little. The Brewers would probably like to tighten up their infield defense. Headley can be prone to errors at times, but he would still be an upgrade for them. He would also give them some flexibility in their lineup. Who couldn't use a switch hitter? The move would make sense for the Brewers but I'm afraid it really doesn't make any sense for the Yankees. I can't find any name in their organization that really helps our cause with the Youth movement and giving building blocks for the future.

(Sept. 17, 2016 - Source: Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America)

I've seen Martin Maldonado floated as a potential trade piece for the Brewers but he's not a piece the Yankees need. He's a catcher and I think the Yankees would be better suited with Austin Romine as a backup then Maldonado. So....it's really not beneficial.

(Aug. 25, 2016 - Source: Adam Hunger/Getty Images North America)

The third base market is thin this season....just like every other position. The Yankees would be better off just keeping Headley. The most attractive piece on the market would be Justin Turner but Headley only has two years left on his contract and Turner is going to want a longer commitment. Not to knock on Turner, he had a nice season with a .275 BA, 27 home runs and 90 RBIs but signing him would mean losing a draft pick. At this point, I would rather continue with the Yankees current strategy, keep my draft pick and continue building the farm.

(Sept. 30, 2016 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

Headley could be an attractive piece to some team out there, but at this stage of the game I think it makes more sense to keep him. I believe Ronald Torreyes could be the future for the Yankees at third base but he is not ready yet. Let him continue to develop and in the mean time, keep Headley. I'm thinking long term here and it makes more sense for the Yankees to keep him.

 --Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

RUSSELL MARTIN & HIS HOT HEAD

This is why it was a breath of fresh air to see Brian McCann saying "I got nothing" this offseason when Russell Martin "attacked" the Yankees for not resigning him, and instead waiting on big fish McCann and spending a ton more. Read BIG MCCANN LAUGHES OFF LITTLE MARTIN for clarity on that.

Now it seems like Martin is shooting his mouth off again. He wants to fight Martin Maldonado and he's serious... and it's silly, let's be honest.  In case you don't know what I'm talking about, it goes like this, according to DJ Short of Hardball Talk:

"The Brewers and Pirates got involved in a nasty brawl yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh after outfielder Carlos Gomez flipped his bat on a triple, which ticked off starter Gerrit Cole. Martin Maldonado was right in the middle of the skirmish and landed a punch on Travis Snider...MLB will issue punishments in the coming days, but Snider’s teammate, Russell Martin, still wants Maldonado to see his comeuppance."

This isn't street shit Russell, this is baseball. Furthermore, how silly does Travis Snider feel like now having loudmouth Martin threatening to settle the score with Maldonado and not Snider himself?  What's Martin's deal?  Apparently now Martin wants to "fight" Maldonado for charity.  I guess if you cushion a "fight" with charity, you seem like some type of hero or something.  To be honest, it's 5th grade crap... Martin needs to shut up.  Here is what took place on the social networks:

Russell Martin: "Maybe (in) offseason we can raise some money for charity and battle it out. Me and (Maldonado). I’m throwing it out there."
— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

Martin: "If (Maldonado) wants to have a fight for charity in the offseason. My contract comes up. … I’d be completely willing to do that."
— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

Martin still fired up a day after the Easter brawl of '14. Martin: "I'm getting heated up just talking about it."
— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

RT @AdamMcCalvy Martin Maldonado declined to respond to Russell Martin's charity fight challenge. "I don't know what to say about it."
— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) April 21, 2014

Once again, Martin looks like to loser here, charity or not.


Hey Russell, here's an idea... why don't you count to 10 and then donate to a charity anyway. That's what millionaires are doing these days, not fighting in the streets of Pittsburgh.  Have you forgotten that baseball is a game?

Napoleon complex much?

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